Pregnancy Brain

An empowering approach to managing stress quickly and effectively during a high-risk pregnancy Not enough women are told how profoundly stress impacts their pregnancy, especially if they are high-risk-but the truth is that stress, if left unmanaged, becomes a serious risk factor for pregnancy complications from preeclampsia and gestational diabetes to preterm labor and poor blood flow to the baby. In this cutting-edge resource-the first of its kind meant specifically for women with high-risk pregnancies-Parijat Deshpande explains why effective stress management is a critical component to prenatal care in order to manage and prevent pregnancy complications. Through peer-reviewed, evidence-based research, powerful true stories and Parijat's compelling personal journey through a very high-risk pregnancy, Pregnancy Brain presents a groundbreaking understanding of the effects of stress and stress management on pregnancy and fetal health and empowers women to take charge of their health and lower their risk of pregnancy complications and preterm birth. In a refreshingly down-to-earth book, Pregnancy Brain shows: >> How mental and emotional stress translate into physiological changes during pregnancy predisposing you to pregnancy complications >>The power of a self-repair mechanism that's naturally built into your body can help manage and prevent pregnancy complications >>The difference between anxiety and fear and why that matters for pregnancy health >>How reshaping your relationship and experience of your body can turn off the stress response (which underlies pregnancy complications) >>How trusting the "early warning whispers" from your body can impact the course of your pregnancy >>How to build a rock-solid medical team that alleviates-instead of exacerbates-anxiety By the end of of Pregnancy Brain, you'll find a radical new model for stress management for a healthy pregnancy. You'll understand how much power your body has to help you get through your high-risk pregnancy and how you can help your body stay pregnant as long as possible. Through gentle exercises and tools designed to swiftly manage your stress, Pregnancy Brain offers hope for creating miracles during a complicated pregnancy.